Commuters Wondering Why Black Fare Evaders In London Do So With Complete Confidence They Won't Be Challenged...

...wonder no longer:

A Metropolitan Police officer acquitted of grabbing a woman’s arm and arresting her for fare evasion is still facing the sack over his “use of force”.PC Perry Lathwood, 51, had initially been found guilty of common assault at Westminster Magistrates’ Court over the incident in Whitehorse Road, Croydon, south London on July 21, 2023. At Southwark Crown Court last September, his appeal against the conviction and £1,500 fine was upheld.PC Lathwood – who remains on restricted duties – will now face a two-day gross misconduct hearing starting on October 13.

What was his 'crime'? 

A notice of the disciplinary alleges he “detained the female, used force against her, engaged in conversation using inappropriate language and arrested her”.

Ah, so he did his job (rare these days), which was backing up TfL fare evasion teams running an operation (also rare these days), when they are challenged or when commuters refuse to answer to them as this woman did. 

It is claimed his conduct also breached standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect, courtesy and equality and diversity.

The final bit is clearly what has prompted action by the thoroughly-captured ptrogressive Met Police. He was insufficiently respectful of a black woman, and treated her in the same manner he would no doubt have treated a white or brown woman. 

Independent Office for Police Conduct regional director Mel Palmer, who led the investigation, added: “This was a high-profile incident that caused significant concern, particularly in the Croydon community, after footage of the incident was published online.”

The only 'community' this would have caused 'concern' for is the community that believes laws and social obligations like paying the fares everyone else pays don't apply to them.  And it's about time we stopped trying to appease them.